Use Your Resources to Sweat the Small Stuff
Time, attention, and energy are our most valuable currencies. They are all scarce and must be protected, even in the best of times. However, with the state of the world what it currently is, there are more demands on these vital resources than ever before. So, what’s a leader to do, especially when she has so many other pressing concerns, such as family, home, and self-care?
The answer may lie in prioritizing the things on which we spend our precious time, attention, and energy. The more we expend on things that we could easily outsource or automate, the less we have to dedicate to the concerns that matter to us, whatever those things may be. You do not have to do everything yourself to be an effective leader, spouse, parent, etc., nor do you need to be an expert to see the benefits of using your resources to handle the daily tasks that tend to pile up.
Things You Can Outsource
Outsourcing frees up your time and energy by hiring someone else to take on a chore or task that would otherwise demand lots of your time and attention. Here are some things that you can easily, safely, and quite often, cheaply hire others to do:
Cleaning or landscape person – you can use the time you'd typically spend cleaning up or taking care of your yard to recharge or spend quality time with family
Tutoring to help your kids with distance learning – school-age children are going through a struggle of their own adjusting to distance learning; when you don't have the time or mental space to be a practical resource for them, local high school students can help
Dog walkers – your dog may be thrilled that everyone is home so much these days; however, the demands of multi-daily walks can be difficult to meet when you have lots of work to do, or just need a break
Grocery shopping – thanks to secure apps like Instacart, you can save yourself lots of time by having someone do your grocery shopping
Meals (prep and delivery) – getting delivery every so often can save you lots of time and energy, both physical and mental
Things You Can Automate
Automation has long been a secret weapon of the most efficient and productive professionals. These days, thanks to technology, you can use automation to make your home life less stressful. Here is a list of just a few things that you can automate to free up some brain energy:
Alarms – you can use an alarm for just about anything, such as when to start or stop working, make phone calls, send mail, or exercise. You can even set up encouraging messages to ping you throughout the day
Finances – automating your finances is one of the most powerful moves you can make; by investing only a few hours every few months, you can save, invest, and pay all your bills on time without having to keep track of every due date
Regular delivery of essentials – mega-stores like Amazon and Target have a helpful function where you can set up regular delivery for things that you might otherwise have to drop everything to take care of, such as diapers or pantry staples
Other Resources
Journaling – Studies show that journaling improves health and reduces anxiety
To-do lists – create detailed to-do lists that list every step of your task or project; writing down every step takes it off your mind and frees up mental space
Coaching – a good coach is a neutral party that will help you develop and help you create a plan to keep you on track to meet your goals
Always remember that while you can always earn more money, you cannot earn more time. Implementing even one of these ideas will buy back some of your precious time and energy to focus on the things that matter to you. For additional support during these trying times, contact Leadership Delta and see why our clients have such a great success rate!